A MAN who caused a one-and-a-half inch gash on a man’s head after punching him outside a pub has been ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £295.

James John Hesleton, 35, of College View, Pickering, punched Phillip Smith on December 14, last year, outside a pub in Bridge Street, Pickering, Scarborough Magistrates’ Court was told on Friday.

Katy Varlow, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, said that Hesleton and Mr Smith were standing outside the pub at about 12.30am smoking when Hesleton “launched himself down the steps and struck him on the head”, causing the cut to Mr Smith’s forehead.

Hesleton pleaded guilty to assault by beating. The court was told that Hesleton had a previous conviction for assaulting Mr Smith in 2012.

Representing Hesleton, Marcus Topham said that the two men had settled their differences prior to the altercation and had even “shaken hands”.

The incident arose after Hesleton had been drinking and Mr Smith had allegedly made comments to him regarding the prior conviction.

Mr Topham said had it been “a different day and different circumstances he [Hesleton] would have just left the situation”.

Hesleton was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay £150 compensation, £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.